05/21/2026
LITURGICAL HANGINGS FOR PENTECOST
The season of Pentecost is the season of the Holy Spirit, which represents the third person in the Trinity coming to the Disciples. What do the colors and symbols of the Pentecost hangings represent? If we understand these things, our worship and appreciation for this season will be greatly enhanced.
The background colors are white, gray and maroon. These are put together in the shape of triangles. The triangle is a symbol for the triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The white triangle represents more explicitly the Trinity, while symbolizing purity. The gray color symbolizes the dove. (Matthew 3:16, “and when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove…”) The maroon triangle represents “earth tones.” We realize that it was to the earth that the Lord came. The various colors emblazoned over the triangles (mixture of red, orange, gold) all represent the Holy Spirit.
One of the primary symbols of Pentecost is fire. Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…”
